Two Nigerian soldiers killed, 3 others injured in 'accident'

Imprimer

Abuja, Nigeria, September 20 (Infosplusgabon) -  The Nigerian Army on Thursday said that two of its soldiers died from “an accidental discharge” involving a soldier on Wednesday in the frontline of the war against Boko Haram insurgency in Gwoza, northeast Nigeria.

 

A Nigerian Army tweet on Thursday morning said: “Accidental discharge kills 2 soldiers. We deeply regret to announce the death of two soldiers of 192 Battalion who lost their lives as a result of an accidental discharge during in-theatre training today.”

 

The statement said a thorough inquiry would be conducted to understand the source of the fatal accident.

 

But sources, however, insisted that it was a suicide case as no training was going on when the incident occurred.

 

According to a source, Staff Sergeant Adegor Okpako who was attached to 192 Battalion in Gwoza, killed himself at about 2:50 pm on Wednesday after allegedly earlier killing another Sergeant colleague who was only identified as Saka.

 

In addition, three soldiers and a member of the civilian joint task force were also seriously wounded in the random shooting by Staff Sergeant Okpako.

 

The source added that Okpako killed himself two days after returning to the battalion after taking a few days’ break. It was not immediately clear whether he was receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or any form of mental health crisis.

 

The latest suicide comes three months after a Nigerian Army Captain committed suicide while undergoing psychiatric evaluation in Borno State. Earlier in November 2017, a soldier opened fire on a Captain, killing him, before turning the gun on himself.

 

Nigerian soldiers fighting resurgent Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s northeast have faced increasing pressures in recent months where over 100 soldiers have been killed and many declared missing.

 

Towards this resurgent activities, Boko Haram terrorists have raided several military bases, making away with large quantities of military equipment.

 

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has twice in the past few weeks paid unscheduled visits to the war front, promising a better working condition and abundant supply or arms and ammunition in a bid to boost the morale of the troops.

 

But it appears that not every soldier ss optimistic about the promises, a situation that may have contributed to the increasing number of mental health cases.

 

Following repeated reports on the deteriorating situation in the northeast region, the Nigerian military authorities on Thursday reiterated its earlier stand that it was winning the war on terror in the face of mounting criticisms to the contrary.

 

Defence Headquarters, in a statement by its spokesman, Brigadier General John Agim, took a swipe at an unnamed foreign news agency it alleged was discrediting the efforts of troops in the northeast region, saying that unlike what obtained between 2014 and 2015, the military was better equipped to take on any terrorist group.

 

Alleging that said such media reports were designed to dampen the morale of troops, General Agim stated that “at the heat of Boko Haram insurgency in 2013 to 2014, the Nigerian Armed Forces with limited weapon chased Boko Haram out of Abuja and other cities into Sambisa Forest. How much more now that the military is well equipped with determined troops to take on any terrorist group, be it Boko Haram or Islamic State In West Africa".

 

 

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/UYT/GABON 2018

 

 

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